This document discusses the topic of frustration. It defines frustration as the emotional tension that results from blocked desires or needs. Some key points made include: Frustration can cause negative feelings like depression, fear, anxiety or anger. It arises when a person encounters obstacles to their goals from external factors like other people or their environment, or internal factors like a lack of abilities. Frustration is an unpleasant emotional state where failures tend to outnumber successes and basic needs are left unsatisfied. The document also outlines different types and sources of frustration and common reactions people have when experiencing frustration.

1. FRUSTRATION
Mr.Visanth V S
Sherwood College of Nursing
Barabanki, UP

2. ◉ The word frustration is derived from a Latin word “frustra”
which mean “in vain”.
◉ Frustration can be regarded as a negative feeling since the person
feel depressed, fearful, anxious or angry during the blockage of
motives.
◉ The blockage may be another person, object in the environment
or the individual’s own lack of abilities.
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Meaning

3. Definition
◉ Frustration means emotional tension resulting
from the blocking of a desire or need.
- Good
◉ When there is some interference with our goal
directed behavior, the result is frustration.
- Gilmer
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4. 4
Frustration
Motives
Obstacles
Goal

5. Characteristics of Frustration
◉ The emotional state developed by frustration is
always unpleasant.
◉ In frustration failures dominate the attempts.
◉ The individual feels a major block in the
satisfaction of basic needs.
◉ The cause of frustration lies both in the
individual and his environment.
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6. Types of Frustration
◉ Personal Frustration: This form of frustration
arises from our personal life ie, the expectation
from others.
◉ Conflicting frustrations: The term conflict is used
in different ways. It may be the clash between two
goals, ideologies, organizations, cultures etc.
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7. ◉ Pressure frustration: This type of frustration arises
when there are more work load comes; it may be in the
form of negative pressures usually in work places,
educational setup etc.
◉ Environmental frustrations: If we work or study in a
negative environment can produce frustrations.
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Contd…..

8. SOURCES/ CAUSES OF FRUSTRATIONS
◉ The various causes of frustration can be broadly
divided into;
■ External Factors
■ Internal factors
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9. External Factors
◉ Physical Factors: These factors block the path of an individual in
attaining his aims and goal; the obstacles may be a locked door,
lack of money, teachers or policeman.
◉ Social Factors: Also include the part played by other person’s in
blocking the doors of the motivated individual. Eg. A child may be
frustrated if he denied to go for play or a picnic similarly an
employee may be frustrated if he denied the promotion or
incentives.
◉ Economic Factors: For example, a young man may suicide
because of unemployment, a family may suicide because of
poverty.
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10. Internal Factors
◉ Physical Abnormality: Physical abnormalities like lean and
thin body, dark complexion, and blind, deaf and dumb etc.
may contribute to frustrations.
◉ Conflicting desires: Frustration may also arise from
mutually conflicting (opposite or mutually attractive) goals.
◉ Individual’s Morality: individual’s moral standards, code of
ethics may become a source of frustration to him. He is
always caught between his super ego and id. When the ego
fails to maintain a balance between the two the person
becomes frustrated.
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11. Internal Factors
◉ Too high level of aspiration: Human beings aspire
very high in spite of their incapability or limitations.
Such aspirations are bound to lead frustrations.
◉ Lack of persistence and sincerity in efforts:
Frustration may be caused by one’s own weakness in
putting continuous and persistent efforts with all the
courage, enthusiasm and will power at one’s
command.
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12. Reaction To Frustration
◉ Simple Reactions: Simple reaction to frustration
includes the following;
○ Improving Efforts
○ Adopting compromising means
○ Withdrawal
○ Submissiveness
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13. ◉ Violent Reactions: Sometimes the individual becomes emotionally
tense and resorts aggressive activities. These reactions may be;
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External Aggression
◉ Here the person shows
frustration towards the person
or towards the substitute.
◉ For example an employee is
denied from promotion may
quarrel with his officer or
rebuke his wife.
Internal Aggression
◉ Here the aggression is
turned towards the self.
Excessive aggression
towards the self is
destructive for the self.

14. Measures to Face Frustration
◉ Review the situation: Try to understand the intensity of the
situation. This will help to adapt appropriate measures to reduce
the frustration.
○ Eg: Career aspiration, inter group conflicts, etc.
◉ Change our goals: Set the goals or modify the goal/desires
◉ Substitute the goals: Some of the cases the original goals may
not be possible to attain. Such cases we can opt for substitute
goals.
○ Eg: A student with poor academic record may shift his option
to sports or cultural activities.
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